I’ve been building something behind the scenes for months, and I haven’t really talked about it much — not because it wasn’t happening, but because I wanted to make sure I could explain it clearly. I wanted to understand it before I announced it. So today, I’m officially introducing the Trust Bridge Series™.

And let me say this upfront: Trust Bridge doesn’t replace anything authors can already do. Indie authors can absolutely reach out to book clubs, podcasts, and bookstores on their own. 

We all can.

But here’s what I learned doing outreach myself:Most of us don’t really know how it works.

And I’m not saying that to be shady. I’m saying it because I lived it. A lot of outreach is haphazard. Time-consuming. Discouraging. We’re pitching the wrong people. We’re aiming at the wrong audience. We’re doing the most… and still not getting traction.

It took me a lot of time to learn how to pitch myself, how to get the pitch right, and how to find people who were actually open to indie authors in the first place.

That’s when my recruiter brain kicked in. Because y’all, I’ve been a recruiter for almost 20 years. 

Recruiting is basically matchmaking. It’s relationship-building. It’s knowing what people want, what they need, and what “fit” actually looks like beyond a surface-level checklist.

And that’s when I started thinking:

“What I really want to do is match authors with the right people so their books can get into the hands of real readers.”

• Book clubs that actually enjoy indie fiction.
• Podcasts that care about real conversation.
• Bookstores that are open to carrying new, unknown, indie authors.

That’s when Trust Bridge became more than an idea.

So… What Is the Trust Bridge Series™?

The Trust Bridge Series™ is a curated directory I’m building of:

• Book clubs
• Podcasts
• Bookstores

And the point is simple:

Authors shouldn’t have to guess who’s indie-friendly. Authors shouldn’t have to waste time pitching people who don’t accept indie authors at all. Authors shouldn’t have to wonder who to contact, how to approach them, or whether they’re just shouting into the void.

But here’s the other side — because Trust Bridge is not only about authors. Book clubs, podcast hosts, and bookstores are overwhelmed too. They get drowned in mass pitches.
Copy-and-paste messages. Spammy outreach that doesn’t even match what they do.

Trust Bridge is meant to meet everybody in the middle — with respect.

It’s a space where both sides are essentially saying:

• “Yes, I’m open.”
• “Yes, I’m respectful.”
• “Yes, I’m willing to connect with intention.”

That’s why I call it Trust Bridge. Because the whole goal is to build connection you can trust — not chaos you have to sift through.

The Part I’m Going to Be Transparent About

Trust Bridge will not be a free service.

And I want to say that plainly, because I don’t do “mystery pricing” and I don’t do “DM me for details” vibes.

What I’m building takes:

• Time
• Vetting
• Follow-up
  
• Relationship-building
• Strategy
• Real work

This is me using:

• My expertise as a recruiter
• My networking experience
• Everything I’ve learned navigating these indie waters

…to create a system that actually helps people.

So yes, at some point, authors will have to pay to be part of this — and honestly, they should. Because this is structure. This is time saved. This is clarity. This is not guesswork.

Where It Is Right Now (Because I’m Not Overhyping This)

Trust Bridge is still early. Still growing. Still being built. And I’m okay with that.

Right now, I’ve got:

• Book clubs in the directory
• A couple podcasts (and that side is growing)
• Bookstores starting to come in

And more are coming slowly.

I actually like the slow growth, because it means the right people are finding it — and I’m building the foundation the right way.

As indie authors, we’re doing everything:

• Writing the books
• Marketing the books
• Making the content
• Learning as we go
• Holding day jobs
• Holding life together
• Trying not to burn out

Trust Bridge is meant to become a home base — a support system — a way to make this journey less overwhelming and more intentional.

What’s Coming in 2026

Trust Bridge is just one part of what I’m building for 202

Bright Headed Publishing is stepping into a new chapter with:

• The full Trust Bridge Series™ hosted on my site
• Digital products and tools for indie authors (guides, resources, real support you can actually use)
• A stronger ecosystem built around connection, visibility, and strategy

I’m not promising magic. I’m not promising guarantees. I’m building a bridge. A real one.

Watch the Episode

Episode link:
https://youtu.be/NBMLFV-sXYQ

Stay connected

Website:
https://brightheadedpublishing.com

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